The National Trust looks after some of the UK’s best bits, from period properties to impressive coastlines, sprawling countryside and amazing gardens.
Their collection of places to visit are the ideal choice for an entertaining, educational and engaging UK staycation. We love a National Trust holiday so much, that we’ve put together this exclusive guide to some of the best places to stay near some of our best National Trust attractions.
Get inspired for your next National Trust short break, overnight stay or holiday right here…
Down Hall in Hertfordshire, perfect for a National Trust holiday near Hatfield Forest
This large 14th century country house hotel, having recently undergone a major refurbishment, is set in large gardens, yet just 45 minutes from central London. Guests staying here benefit from stylishly refurbished executive rooms, and use of the recently opened Eden spa facilities, which includes a steam room, sauna, treatment rooms and lots more. But that’s not all Down Hall has to offer, it’s also just a short drive (17 minutes to be precise) from the National Trust’s Hatfield Forest.
Hatfield Forest is an ancient royal hunting forest that boasts a beautiful lake where you’ll find the National Trust cafe. There’s also a secondhand bookshop on site and a visitors hub which can help you really make the most of what this historic area has to offer. If you’re looking for a National Trust holiday that’s centred around history, archaeology, nature and wildlife, all on the doorstep of an equally historic hotel where you can unwind after long walks through the woodland, then a stay at Down Hall near Hatfield Forest could be the perfect National Trust break for you.
🌿 Visit: Hatfield Forest, ancient royal hunting forest.
Cotswold House in Gloucestershire, ideal for a National Trust Break near Snowshill Manor and Garden
Cotswold House is a boutique, luxury spa hotel set in the perfect Cotswold village of Chipping Campden, featuring a luxurious spa to relax and unwind in, a vibrant brasserie restaurant & stylish contemporary bedrooms. Not only is it one of the finest hotels in the Cotswolds it’s also perfectly placed for a National Trust holiday to Snowshill Manor & Gardens which is just a 13 minute drive away.
Snowshill Manor & Gardens is the unconventional home of the eccentric Charles Wade, who delighted in creating a stage for his life and passions. Visitors here can enjoy the secondhand bookshop and National Trust cafe, as well as exploring Wade’s fascinating collection of handmade items, Wolf’s Cove, a model harbour and a stroll through the gardens and orchards. It’s perfect for a visit no matter what the weather, with as much to discover outside as in.
🌿 Visit: Snowshill Manor & Garden
Swinton Park Hotel in North Yorkshire, great for visiting Fountains Abbey
This romantic, luxury castle hotel near Ripon, North Yorkshire, is set in an expansive 200 acres of parkland, lakes and gardens. Featuring a 3 AA rosette restaurant and stunning guest bedrooms, it’s the winner of a Green Tourism Gold Award, and is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including the imposing Fountains Abbey.
Fountains Abbey is a World Heritage Site boasting ancient abbey ruins and an awe-inspiring water garden. It’s within a 30 minute drive away from Swinton Park Hotel and it is a perfect place to get outdoors and explore eye-catching vistas and local wildlife.
🌿 Visit: Fountains Abbey
Bodysgallen Hall & Spa in Clwyd perfect for a visit to the National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle
Standing in 200 acres of its own parkland to the south of Llandudno, Bodysgallen Hall is an outstanding country house hotel, with a fine dining restaurant, a more casual bistro and a deluxe spa. Beautiful gardens well worth exploring here include a rare 17th century parterre of box hedges filled with sweet-scented herbs, a rockery with a cascade, a walled rose garden and several follies. And if that’s not enough gardens for you to explore, it’s also only a 30 minute drive to the National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle and Gardens.
Penrhyn Castle and Garden is a fantasy castle with industrial and colonial foundations. Enjoy the Walled Gardens and fountains as well as the 60 acres of parkland with views of Snowdonia, Great Orme and Puffin Island. There’s a play area, cafes and second-hand book shop too. Just a half an hour drive from Bodysgallen Hall, why not make a trip of it!
🌿 Visit: Penrhyn Castle and Garden
Danesfield House in Berkshire, great for a National Trust holiday to Clivden
If you love being outdoors in nature, then a stay at Danesfield House complete with a visit to Cliveden is the perfect National Trust holiday for you. Cliveden boasts an impressive 80 acres of formal gardens and an additional 300 acres of woodland. It’s perfect for summer strolls, winter walks and everything else in between, thanks to its year round colour and interest.
🌿 Visit: Cliveden
Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa in Suffolk, close to Sutton Hoo
🌿 Visit: Sutton Hoo
Bovey Castle in Devon, ideal for a National Trust break to Buckland Abbey
A Medieval Abbey that was then converted into a Tudor house during the Dissolution, Buckland Abbey boasts a Medieval Tithe Barn, Elizabethan gardens, ancient woodlands with panoramic views of the Tamar Valley, a natural play area if your visiting with children and the dog-friendly Ox Yard Cafe. If you’re saying at Bovey Castle, this is a National Trust must visit
🌿 Visit: Buckland Abbey
Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire close to Hawford Dovecote
This fine, traditional English country house hotel, in the heart of Worcestershire, won Visit England’s Small Hotel of the Year award for 2015. Fully deserving of its 4 red star status, it offers a choice of dining in the Chaddesley restaurant or more informal lounge bar, elegant guest bedrooms and wonderful lounge areas. If you can bear to tear yourself away from this beautiful hotel though, then we highly recommend a visit to the National Trust property Hawford Dovecote, just a 20 minute drive away. This 16th-century half-timbered dovecote sits prettily in the surrounding countryside and is the highlight of many surrounding walking routes.
🌿 Visit: Hawford Dovecote
The Belsfield in Cumbria, a great base for a National Trust Holiday to Wray Castle
The Belsfield is located in Bowness-on-Windermere, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel’s incredible position in the Lake District boasts many nearby attractions and landmarks so there is plenty to do during your stay. With Laura Ashley furnishings throughout and a 2 AA Rosette Restaurant, this is the ideal location for a blissful break.
And speaking of nearby attractions, one of our favourites is the Gothic Revival, Wray castle, just a scenic 20 minute drive from The Belsfield, around the northern half of Lake Windermere itself. With an abundance of turrets and towers, Wray Castle offers everything you’d expect from a property in this style and well as a lakeside shingle beach, an independent cafe serving vegan sweet treats, a Gothic Revival boathouse and miniature harbour, an arboretum and last but by no means least, a second hand bookshop. We think this hotel, this location and this attraction, makes for one of the best National Trust holidays you could have in Cumbria.
🌿 Visit: Wray Castle
Balmer Lawn Hotel in the New Forest close to Mottisfont
The Balmer Lawn Hotel is a stylish country hotel set in the New Forest National Park, offering a mixture of classic and contemporary rooms, an impressive spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, and a fine dining restaurant. Recently refurbished, it’s an ideal location to enjoy a refreshing break away and a visit to Mottisfont, just a 35 minute drive away.
The last National Trust attraction on our list but by no means the least, Mottisfont is a romantic house and gallery sat in beautiful riverside gardens. If you consider yourself an art lover, this one is definitely for you. Not only can you explore the permanent collection of 20th century art on display here, but the changing exhibitions mean it’s perfect to visit again and again.
🌿 Visit: Mottisfont
So, if you’re looking for a UK staycation that’s close to some of the National Trust’s most popular attractions, as well as offering all the benefits of some of the UK’s most luxurious hotels, why not try one of the ten destinations listed above?
